Steve Marsh really liked BMWs, so when he died this year his family decided to give him the ultimate memorial in the form of a BMW tombstone. Mr. Marsh's remains rest in London's Manor Park cemetery under a solid granite replica of a BMW M3 convertible (Mr. Marsh's car of choice in life).
Designed in England but carved in China, the BMW tombstone cost the family about $75,000--about the same price as an actual M3 in England. The BMW tombstone has caused a little controversy and has even garnered a "joke" parking ticket.
Convertible Coffin-Toppers
The BMW Tombstone is a Memorial for Auto-Enthusiasts
Trend Themes
1. Customized Memorials - Disruptive innovation opportunities lie in creating personalized and unique memorials that reflect an individual's passions and interests.
2. Luxury Funeral Industry - There is potential for disruption in the funeral industry by offering high-end funeral services and products for affluent customers seeking extravagant memorials.
3. Cross-cultural Collaboration - Opportunities exist for collaboration between designers from different countries and cultures to create innovative and culturally diverse memorial products.
Industry Implications
1. Memorial and Funeral Services - Disruptive innovation can be explored in the field of memorial and funeral services by introducing unique and customized offerings for customers.
2. Custom Sculpture and Design - The custom sculpture and design industry can capitalize on the demand for personalized memorials by creating intricate and lifelike replicas of objects, vehicles, or other significant symbols.
3. International Stone Carving - The international stone carving industry can benefit from cross-cultural collaborations by bringing together skilled artisans from different countries to create innovative and culturally rich tombstones.